The Sprout
Botley Baptist Church R.I.P.
The newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Issue 128 June 2018
The Sprout
Issue 128, June 2018
Contents
3 Letters to the Editor
7 Botley on the go!
9 Dr Chadwick retires
15 Botley lives!
17 Literary Botley update
19 New Plans for our Fields
25 Do you remember…?
Planning Apps
27 Second Botley Brownies
29 Seacourt Hall move
31 Marie Antoinette moment
35 Botley Branches
37 Neighbourhood plan
38 Friends of Raleigh Park
39 WWCC Update
41 Randoms
43 Local Organizations
From the Editor
This month’s Sprout is simply packed with information, and so we’ve had
to carry a couple of articles over to next. Sorry to disappoint if you sent
something in and it hasn’t appeared yet. Last month’s letter, wondering
what made people care what happened to the shopping centre, has
attracted a slew of replies (p.3), and there is also a letter decrying, among
other things, the lack of disabled access at the Pavilion. Hopefully the new
one will be more accessible. See page 19 for a full account of last month’s
public consultation. There are also updates on the Seacourt Hall move
(p29), the timescale for changes (p7) and from WWCC (p39), and a last
chance to have your say on the Neighbourhood Plan, now nearing
completion (p37). Dr Chadwick is retiring, and invites all patients past and
present to his retirement party on 27th June (p9). Botley Branches reports
on the youth café which should be up and running in the new temporary
Seacourt Hall in time for the summer holidays, and there is a fascinating
article on the unlikely subject of birds and dung-beetles from Linda Losito,
who always has something interesting to say about the natural world
(p.31). This month’s cover shows a lino print of the Baptist Church from
Emmett Casley’s series on Botley Centre. Sprout AGM on 8th July – your
chance to come and tell us what you’d like. See you there!
Ag MacKeith
Letters to the Editor
Botley shopping centre defended
Community spirit: Quite obviously Carolina hasn’t spent much time in
the square, so has no idea of the community spirit that was there. I ran a
shop there for seven years and I am still mourning its loss. I wonder how
some of my elderly customers are coping without their daily fix of cafe,
coffee and charity shop. But I do know lots of people who don’t have any
attachment to the shops or the square, and can’t wait to see it
redeveloped. Carolina represents those people and their perspective on
things is equally important. So although her views are different from mine,
they are equally valid, and I am glad you published her letter. Everyone
should have a chance to have their say.
Judi Bolder
Overall: I have lived in Oxford for over 60 years and in Botley for 30
years. I have watched gradual improvements made to the area and was
frankly dismayed by the original redevelopment plans, which would have
reduced the West Way area to the level of a forbidding barbican. It is the
efforts of those who wish to improve the local environment which have
made the final plan halfway acceptable, as well as the steadfast loyalty
of the family who own Elms Parade shops. For Carolina's information,
these shops represent the last architecturally consistent 1930s shopping
parade in the Oxford area and the tenants do not deserve them to be
called grumpy, dirty, musty, unkempt and ugly.
Has the writer set foot in Botley Library recently? Saved from closure by
a community campaign some years ago, it is friendly and welcoming with
staff who maintain a pleasant atmosphere for the many users. Does she
not realise that small shopkeepers are unlikely to be able to afford the
rents necessary for the developers to turn a profit, and that the individual
and distinctive shops are likely to be replaced by the same sort of chains
which have made Oxford an increasingly boring place to visit?
Editor’s Note: Letters to the Editor on any and every subject are
always welcome, but in future they will only be printed if they come
with the sender’s name and address.
Perhaps she was swayed by the artists' impressions of the cafe society
which the developers envisage, with trendy folk supping the sort of coffee
one gets in these sorts of outlets. Perhaps she thinks that is what a
community is. If so, she might reflect on the fact that a community is only
as strong as the people who make it, not the facilities they choose to be
seen in! Martin Roberts
Library: I was very surprised to read in a letter in the May edition that the
atmosphere in the library was not good. I have always been impressed
by the friendliness, helpfulness and professionalism of all those who work
there, and I know I am not alone in this. They treat all those using the
facility with equal courtesy, be the member 8 or 80. Their knowledge of
authors is impressive and they are always ready to suggest 'a good read'.
We are very lucky to have our library. It is valued by the community and
I hope we can continue to enjoy what it offers when it is finally rehoused.
Jennifer Wade
Local democracy at work?
Local people not "online" may like to know that there has been a
consultation event on the development of the Louie Memorial Fields. Just
450 flyers were printed for a parish of over 2000 homes advertising this
single-date event in April which was held at a venue without full disability
access. An online survey for this wasn't advertised in the May 2018
Sprout either. Local democracy at work? John Marriott
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SPROUT AGM 8th JULY, 3PM, LM PAVILION, ARNOLD’S WAY –
EVERYBODY WELCOME
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Works in progress - Botley is on the go!
After many delays, and much deliberation, everything is happening all at
once, with a number of local projects progressing rapidly. Here’s a short
round-up of some major issues from a Parish Council viewpoint.
The Botley Centre redevelopment. Works are well under way,
preparing the temporary locations for the various community and retail
users. By the end of June all of them should have been relocated,
allowing the main works on the shopping precinct to start in earnest.
NHPC continues to be involved in ongoing meetings with the
developers, and negotiating via the Community Liaison Group to
minimalize disruption during the works.
After several years hard work the Neighbourhood Plan is reaching
fruition, with a final public consultation in June and July – see the
separate article on this topic for further details. Public support, and
approval through a referendum later in 2018, is key to gaining some
control over planning issues that affect us all.
Work continues on developing a masterplan for the rejuvenation of
facilities on the Louie Memorial Playing Fields. Many thanks to those
who participated in the recent consultation, including well over 100
people who turned up for the event on the 28th April. Feedback so far
shows very strong support for the replacement of the current Pavilion
and Scout Hut with a new (rather than refurbished) single building,
whilst a range of opinions about the exact mix and locations of leisure
facilities and parking spaces will help us to develop the plans further.
The level of funding from the Vale still has to be agreed, and will be
essential for implementation.
A planning application (ref. MW.0028/18) has been submitted by the
Environment Agency for the proposed Flood Alleviation Channel, and
comments are being sought by 14th June. Details can be found on the
myeplanning.oxfordshire.gov.uk website.
Highways England are choosing the corridor for the Oxford to
Cambridge Expressway, with an answer expected in July, after which
a detailed route will be identified. We will continue to oppose any plans
to widen the A34 through Botley until that option has been discarded.
David Kay, North Hinksey Parish Council Chairman.
Dr John Chadwick retires
Dr Chadwick writes:
Having qualified as a doctor in 1978 from
the Oxford Clinical School, I joined Drs
Jackson, Slater and Blazewicz at Botley
Medical Centre in 1981, taking over from Dr
Dempsey, who had retired. Dr Jackson
retired the following year and the three of us
worked very hard until Dr Rawcliffe joined in
1986. We practised from the now
demolished double fronted green painted
house on the corner of Elms Road with the
beautiful cherry trees outside, until it
became unsuitable, when we planned and
had built the present surgery, moving in just
before Christmas 1991.
For many years there were 8-8,500 patients but this grew to 9,500
patients when we joined with Kennington in April 2017. We are now
looking to extend the building as work and staff have expanded.
Besides working during the day, we shared out-of-hours cover, 24/7 and
365 days a year, which included all public and bank holidays. In 2004
with the new GP contract, out-of-hours cover was taken over by Oxford
Emergency Primary Care Medical Service (OXEMS) based in Manzil
Way.. It was a huge relief to be able to do sessions there for a fixed time
rather than be available for 3 nights from Friday to Monday once a month.
I used to get a male version of PMT before my weekends on call!
We had branch surgeries in Wootton and in the Bear & Ragged Staff
outbuilding in Cumnor, which both ran three days per week.
In 1981 we had no typist and wrote all our referral letters by hand. We
soon became organised with Dictaphones, and a group of local ladies
typed up our dictated ramblings! A practice nurse joined in 1986, and we
now have two splendid nurse practitioners and two excellent health care
assistants who can also take blood. Before these, we doctors took all our
own blood samples.
Initially on the administration side we had a senior receptionist, but now
also have a practice manager. She has the difficult task of trying to
ensure that all aspects of the practice run smoothly, as well as keeping
abreast of all the frequent changes in the NHS. She, as well as all our
other staff, are invaluable.
We were one of the last practices in Oxfordshire to become
computerised, but now we wonder how we managed without information
technology. It gives us speedy access to records and data about patients
and eases communication. It can also advise us of “best value” drugs,
and warn us about potential drug interactions.
I became senior partner in 2007 when Dr Slater retired, and when I
started to wind down, Dr Ballestero took over this role in 2016, steering
the practice forward.
The concept of Health Promotion became prominent from the early 1980s
and much practical effort is spent on “prevention rather than cure”. In
those days low-risk mothers were allowed to be delivered by midwives
and their GP. This was often a very happy event and some of the children
born then are now parents themselves, and still patients!
Many medications have changed or been introduced since then! Whilst
the humble aspirin has been available for many years, ACE inhibitors
(such as the Ramipril many of you take) were just being introduced in the
late 1970s. Statins and PPI
blockers (Omeprazole and
Lansoprazole) and bone-
strengthening pills (such as
Alendronate), all now liberally
prescribed, were not available
then. Possibly the pattern of
disease has changed too. In 1981
few patients had coronary artery
bypass grafts, whereas
appendicitis was more prevalent
then than now. For unknown
reasons there is currently a
widespread incidence of scarlet
fever.
The way GPs work has changed
too. With time pressures now, we
do more phone consultations and
fewer home visits. In 1981 we were
4 full-time male partners, but now
we have a much larger number of doctors, of both sexes. All complement
each other. Over my 37 years in the practice I have seen many medical
conditions, had many fulfilling days, as well as frustrating days, but also
some sad and tragic situations. It has been very hard work, stressful at
times, and highly responsible.
What I have enjoyed most is meeting you and talking to you as
individuals. You have taught me so much about life itself, and the human
condition! The model of a GP
caring for you over many
years is a treasured institution
which should be preserved if
at all possible.
It has been a pleasure and
privilege to look after some of
you and I wish you all a
healthy happy life ahead.
Dr John Chadwick
Dr Chadwick cordially invites all
patients, past and present, to
join him at his retirement tea-
party on Wednesday 27 June
between 5 pm and 8 pm at the
Botley Medical Centre, Elms Road,
Botley, Oxford OX2 9JS.
Botley lives!
Hello! We’re Nicholas and Hannah, new Botley residents. We’ve been
living in Oxford for about 8
years and are excited to finally
make the move form East to
West! We’re both music
obsessed and believe in using
art to create positive
environmental and social
change.
Nicholas is a sound engineer
and Hannah is a musician. We
run a recording studio in East
Oxford, producing sound for
music, film and documentary,
and have just started a record label called Upcycled Sounds Records.
(More on upcycledsounds.eu) You might well have seen us cycling
around with lots of instruments on our bikes!
We operate on a reduce, reuse and recycle policy to minimize our
consumption of resources while maintaining the highest quality output.
For example, alongside our state-of-the-art studio equipment, we also
repair and build kit with reclaimed materials, make use of solar power,
and can even fit a professional recording set up on a bicycle! We help
clients to make ethical choices, such as offering local food for sessions,
ecofriendly packaging options and links with local artists and businesses.
We also volunteer with a number of projects using the arts to engage
people in social and environmental issues, including Tandem Festival
which is coming up in a few weeks’ time. Tandem Festival
(http://tandemfestival.com) is a
3-day music festival bringing you
different worlds of music, art, talks,
workshops, film, dance, food and
eco-friendliness. It was first held at
Hill End Camp four years ago,
when it was reviewed in The
Sprout. The fourth edition will run
from 22nd–24th June at beautiful
Lower Farm in Ramsden, near
Witney. This year’s headliners are Tantz, Perhaps Contraption, Raka,
Peter & Kerry, Paddy Steer and Iyatra Quartet. They are part of a huge
programme of music, from funk to a full-piece orchestra, Balkan beats to
late night DJs. There will be resident musicians from around the globe
sharing the sounds of their cultures. The festival will also be packed with
dance, storytelling, crafts and workshops to introduce you to everything
from yoga to didgeridoos to Bitcoin. There are loads of new family
activities this year with arts, activities and unamplified stages for little
ears. It’s local and not outrageously expensive: Adult weekend camping
tickets start from £85 and under 12s go free!
Hope to see some Botley folk there, and do drop us a line if you want to
visit the studio!
Hannah Jacobs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Literary Botley – an update
Thank you for the terrific response I
have had. There have been some amazing books written by Botley
people on topics ranging from fish to Ivor Novello. Part 1 should
appear next month. Has anyone come across some authors called
van Heyningen? You can phone me on Oxford 864776 or email
martin.harris321@gmail.com.
Farewell to rocker
Roy Young
I was very sad to learn of the
death of musician Roy Young,
who once lived in the parish.
He was an amazing talent,
playing with the Beatles, but
also kindly performing at a
church bazaar here in 2011
which I was lucky to see. The
picture shows him there with my cousin, Pat Young.
Martin Harris
Sprout AGM on
8th July 2018, 3pm
Pavilion, Arnold’s
Way
Everybody welcome!
Public support for rejuvenation of Louie Memorial
Fields and Pavilion
The Louie Memorial Fields were donated to North Hinksey Parish Council
in 1939 by builder Henry Stephen Kingerlee, in honour of his late wife and
for the purpose of organized sport or other recreation (including ‘buildings
to be used for recreational purposes’). Currently the Fields contain one
adult-sized football pitch, a Pavilion, the 4th Oxford Scout Hut, a multi-
use games area (MUGA), freestanding fitness equipment (Trim Trail), a
children’s play area and a car park. The built facilities occupy around 5%
of the available space, the football pitch around 15%, and the woodland
copse and fenland over 20%, with the remaining 60% maintained as open
grassed area for informal recreation. Regular users of the Pavilion include
two community football teams, the North Hinksey Youth Club, and a local
craft group. The Pavilion is also hired for casual bookings such as pop-
up cafés and larger-scale events such as the recent Explorer Scouts
Green Belt Run.
In the March Sprout I summarised efforts across the last ten years to
improve recreational facilities at our parish playing fields. Most recent was
NHPC’s appointment in December of planning consultants Nortoft, with
support from Vale District Council, to undertake a first phase of planning
for the overall site. Nortoft presented their emerging proposals at the
Annual Parish Meeting on 22nd March, which was attended by over 50
parishioners (the highest attendance I’ve seen as a councillor!). This
launched a period of public consultation that included an all-day event at
the Pavilion on
28th April.
Around 150
people attended
across the day.
David O’Neil of
Nortoft gave a
presentation in
the morning and
again in the
afternoon, each
lasting over 90
minutes thanks
to plenty of
questions and comments from the audience. Posters of the emerging
proposals were on display, and two members of the Nortoft team were
available throughout the day for informal discussion.
In spite of the dreary weather, attendance was steady. Those who
attended the afternoon presentation were encouraged to give their
feedback through the online consultation link available on the home page
of NHPC’s website. The consultation link stayed open through 13th May
and was advertised on parish council noticeboards, the NHPC website
and Facebook page. Parishioners could also request a paper copy of the
form from the Parish Clerk.
Consultation results:
Over 260 responses were received, 90 in paper form and around 170
online. At the time of writing Nortoft were doing detailed analysis in
preparation for their full consultation report, but initial results were
discussed at NHPC’s meeting on 17th May.
The aim of the consultation was to identify which of the options proposed
by Nortoft should be taken forward as community priorities for more
detailed planning. Options included:
Replacing the Pavilion and Scout Hut with a shared new building
Providing up to ten car parking spaces (including disabled parking) by
a new building
Providing cycle parking
Extending the current car park for an additional row of parking
Moving the Trim Trail equipment from the upper field to the lower field
Providing new youth adventure and fitness equipment
Moving the football pitch from year to year to reduce wear and tear
Adding or improving paths for walkers and joggers
Providing a skatepark
No change at all
Four options emerged as clear
priorities among respondents:
A new joint use Pavilion
building (80% agree,
including 40% who strongly
agree)
Cycle parking at the building (90% agree, inc. 63% strongly agree)
New youth adventure and fitness equipment (75% agree, including
55% who strongly agree)
Provision of a skatepark (72% agree, inc. 52% who strongly agree)
When asked to consider all options together the same pattern emerged:
a new building, youth adventure / fitness equipment, and a skatepark
were rated ‘high value to the community’ by 63%, 55%, and 54% of
respondents respectively. Conversely the option of no change at all was
seen as ‘no value to the community’ by 64% of respondents.
Results for other options were more mixed. Concerns were raised about
the provision of additional parking, which would reduce the grassed area
and potentially encourage driving over more sustainable forms of
transport. The importance of maintaining open space for informal
recreation (walking, relaxing, hanging out with friends) was strongly
emphasised. Striking the right balance between providing facilities to
encourage use of the playing fields and supporting its natural resources
(woods, fenland, wildlife corridor) was a recurring theme that will continue
to inform the planning work.
What’s next?
Nortoft will complete the first phase of planning, including projected costs
and potential future income, in July. By then the parish council will need
to decide how to proceed with phase two (detailed planning including a
formal planning application). NHPC will also be considering specific
options for new youth adventure and fitness equipment that could be
purchased with available funds this autumn. Feedback from parishioners
about the plans as they continue to emerge and attendance at our
meetings are welcome at all times – see the parish notice boards or our
website for contact information and meeting details.
If you missed the consultation events you can access the presentation
slides on our website: www.northhinksey-pc.gov.uk (see home page
or follow links to ‘Louie Memorial’ page)
You can also watch video clips from the April presentations and see our
latest updates on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/
northhinkseypc (you can view the page without a Facebook account)
Cllr Caroline Potter (chair, NHPC Recreation & Amenities Committee)
Do You Remember ..?…Great to meet some of Botley’s first
wave of skateboarders at the consultation, equipped with pictures. Glad
you are still
around and
still taking
an interest!
Thanks for
the photos,
and thanks
for the
memories! :
AgM
Henry
MacKeith and
Robert
Cotterell
outside the
Seacourt Hall
c 1990
LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P18/V0969/DIS, P18/V1027/DIS, P18/V1029/DIS,
P18/V1032/DIS, P18/V1112/DIS Botley Centre West Way.
Discharge of several conditions of planning permission
P16/V0246/FUL and P17/V1507/FUL etc.
16 April. Target
decision dates
28 May
13 June
P18/V0959/LDP
18 April
TDD: 13 June
P18/V0629/LDP
19 April
TDD: 14 June
P18/V0913/HH
23 April
TDD:18 June
P18/V0785/FUL
25 April
TDD: 20 June
P18/V1088/PDH
30 April
TDD: 11 June
P18/V1168/FUL
11 May
TDD: 6 July
Sweet little rabbit baskets
As well as us being out and about
recently we did find time to make
sweet little rabbit baskets for Easter.
Rather than buying new card, Tawny
breathed new life into discarded file
dividers and, after making a template
and drawing the outline on each
piece of card, got the girls to carefully
cut out the elongated rabbit shape.
The girls did the best job of cutting
out difficult shapes that we had seen
in a very long time.
After some folding of the card rabbit
so that it would sit down came the shaping of a few of the brightly coloured
egg boxes, saved from our recent
fire-lighting at Beanwood. The girls
needed to trim down and zig-zag the
top so that they had what looked like
the lower half of a recently hatched
egg. Then they added a layer of
tissue so that the chick had
somewhere comfy to sit down, and
attached a staple to the rabbit so that
it ended up hugging the
newly hatched decorative
chick.
After Easter we welcomed
new joiners Maia and
Libby to our Unit.
We have much to look
forward to this term, and
look forward to telling you
about our amazing large-
scale activity day where – along with other members of Oxford City II
Division – we will get to climb a climbing wall, have a caving experience
and try archery.
Lucy Howes
Seacourt Hall is moving!
On Saturday 16th June Seacourt Hall will be packing up and moving next
door to the second floor of the Grant Thornton building. This temporary
relocation is for at least a year until the brand new Community Hall is built
as part of the West Way redevelopment. After the move the existing hall
will be demolished in the redevelopment’s first phase.
This new location will provide new opportunities for the community with
more space and light, a larger hall, meeting room and dance floor, and
fully fitted out new spaces ideal for clubs, exercise and dance classes,
meetings, catered events and parties!
What you can expect from the new temporary Seacourt Hall:
Larger hall space (c.200 m
2
) with dance floor area (103 m
2
)
Kitchen facilities
Larger meeting room (c. 50m
2
)
New Craft room (c. 30 m
2
) primarily used by Branches Young People’s
group
Lift with wheelchairs provided and accessible toilets
Lots of light (trees screen the view of the A34!)
At time of press the building was still being fitted out. We will be adding
photos to the website at www.seacourthall.org.uk during June. You are
also invited to view the facilities for yourself on Open Day in July.
SUNDAY 15TH JULY 11AM TO 5PM- SEACOURT HALL OPEN DAY
Please come along to see your new hall and find out what is happening
there. This is a chance to look around and to learn more about the space
and facilities available. You will also be able to see plans for the
permanent Community Hub.
This is your chance to meet local groups and other organizations and
charities, learn about what they provide, experience the space and see if
you might want to make use of the hall and rooms for your group or event.
There will be tea, coffee and cakes available and members of the
Seacourt Hall Management Committee and the Parish Council will be on
hand to answer questions and booking enquiries.
If you run a local club, organization or charity and are interested in taking
part in the Open Day please contact me on the email address below.
Regular bookings for the hall can be made online at our website above,
by email: seacourt.hall@gmail.com and phone: 07452 960100.
Lorna Berrett
That Marie Antoinette Moment …
A few weeks back, I was discussing the in and outs of veganism with an
enthusiastic young man on a stall in Cornmarket Street. (They were
giving away free cake.) His desired objective was to remove all domestic
livestock from farms – even to the extent of replacing all woollen products
with synthetics. “But what will the birds do without the dung?” I asked.
“Lots of them rely almost entirely on the beetles that they find in sheep
and cow dung.” “They can eat berries!” he replied confidently.
This, probably well-educated, individual clearly lacked understanding of
the world around him. He had no concept that many birds are completely
or partially reliant on insects and will die out if they can’t find any. And no
doubt he is not alone.
Until recently, insects were abundant in Britain and other parts of Europe
but suddenly they are in a steep decline (70% reduction in 30 years).
While many scientists are very worried, the general public seem much
less concerned than they should be.
There are several reasons for the decline, but the use of pesticides is the
most important. Modern farmland is ecologically dead. There is nothing
moving but the crop sprayers. The sound of machinery has replaced the
sound of birds. But try visiting an organic farm like Adam Twine’s place
at Watchfield. The crops are bursting out of the ground as on any other
farm, but there are also butterflies moving between the wild flowers
around the edges. Buzzards are hovering overhead, and the sound of
skylarks drowns out the noise of the traffic on the A420.
These days, most farm animals are locked away in sheds living totally
artificial lives. If they are out in the fields, they are often so full of
chemicals that dung beetles cannot survive in their dung. As a result, the
dung does not get eaten by the beetles
and so remains to form a hard dry crust
on the grass, preventing new growth.
On Willowbrook Farm, another organic
farm (at Hampton Gay), there are so
many dung beetles in the sheep
droppings that the dung is gone almost
as soon as it is produced. It is
astonishing that most modern farmers
seem to be unaware even of the
existence of dung beetles, let alone the
many benefits they can provide.
Many of us who care about birds hang up bird feeders and plant berry-
bearing shrubs in our gardens to help them survive through the winter.
But that only helps some birds some of the time. Baby birds need to be
fed on insects or other sources of animal protein. Peanuts just will not do.
But there is deep rooted prejudice against insects. If they exist in your
garden or on your farmland, the expectation is that you will kill them, no
matter how harmless or useful they are. Strangely, people seem to make
an exception for those they find beautiful, like butterflies – but not their
caterpillars!
In my front garden is an old, lovely viburnum
which is smothered in white blossom every
year. This is followed by an outbreak of the
viburnum beetle which totally defoliates the
whole plant. These in turn are followed by
flocks of beautiful little long-tailed tits that flit
among the branches, feasting on the beetle
larvae. The viburnum thrives, the beetles
thrive, and the long-tailed tits thrive.
And it is not just insects - slugs and snails suffer unfairly too. Personally,
I never use slug pellets and as a consequence song thrushes visit
regularly, using the garden path as an anvil. The garden is full of flowers
(and bees) but they are all tough enough to thrive alongside the slugs and
snails – as they do and always have done in the natural world. It makes
life a lot easier (with the thrush’s lovely song thrown in as an extra).
There is also prejudice against dung. It has to be cleaned up and tidied
away so that we are not offended by it. Anti-social dog owners who leave
their dog’s waste in the middle of a public footpath or on a children’s play
area rightly should be fined and publicly shamed. But I feel a particular
animosity towards those idiots who put their pooch’s poo in pretty pink
polka dot bags and then abandon it. They may think the packaging
makes it better. It doesn’t. It makes it much worse. Somebody has to
remove it. They are making it somebody else’s problem.
As a pathway warden, it often becomes my problem. More and more of
these little bags build up – offensive to look at, and offensive to smell,
especially in hot weather. And, most importantly, they never go away. A
naked, not plastic-wrapped, dog turd will quickly decompose and
disappear. Plastic lasts for a very, very long time.
I know a number of dog owners who use “a stick-and-a flick” if they are
in the countryside. The offending material is dispatched from the path
into the undergrowth where it cannot be seen or trodden in. And guess
what? It is often eaten by the very same dung beetles that can no longer
find anything to eat on farmland. And another bird gets to find a protein
based meal and survive a bit longer. Result!
Linda Losito
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BRANCHES CAFÉ
Serving the Community
with Young People at its Heart
Branches Café will be on the 1st Floor at Elms Court
above the library. It will feel like a refreshing and
friendly place to escape from the building works and come together! We
will be open from 8am–3pm for the whole community, and then, from
3pm–5.30pm it will be a safe and nurturing place for young people to
socialise and learn skills – with a take-away service for the wider
community. In the evenings there will be open-access youth sessions and
Food Heaven nights for young people to get more involved as Young
Leaders in running the social enterprise.
If you are aged 12–17 and want to help us make the Café look and feel
right there will be a Design Day on Thursday 28 June from 5pm–7pm.
Come and choose colours and cushions! Free drinks and toasties! Find
us online at www.branchesyouth.uk.
It’s taken over two years to make this vision a reality, and we are so
grateful for the support of the community on this journey, including the
Sprout, who bought us a water boiler and sponsored our T-shirts. We will
try our utmost to be open before the summer holidays so the young
people can come down before school term ends.
Now is the time to join Branches Team as a Volunteer! Come and
join us on our journey and provide our young people with a safe and lively
destination. Please get in touch with me on 0755 798 1769 or email
diane@branchesyouth.uk. We will give you support and training – and we
know you can show us a thing or two! There’s FREE Level 2 Food
Hygiene qualification if you get in touch by 10 June, with thanks to Janice
Morrison www.thamestraining.co.uk . Diane Long
Neighbourhood Plan – last chance for comments
During June and July we will be running a six week final consultation
period for you to be able to comment on any aspect of the North Hinksey
Parish Neighbourhood Plan 2031.
The Plan contains important policies aimed at improving the planning
legislation for our area including guidance on appropriate types, scale
and design of housing developments, protecting and maximising the
efficiency of business sites, managing transport issues (including
parking, and encouraging walking and the use of bicycles and public
transport), protecting green spaces and leisure / social infrastructure,
encouragement of carbon reduction and renewal energy, managing
groundwater issues, and ensuring appropriate redevelopment of the
Brookes University Harcourt Hill Campus.
After the consultation we will make changes to reflect your feedback and
then the documents will be submitted to an Independent Examiner.
Assuming all goes well there will be a referendum later this year where
everybody has an opportunity to vote on adopting the Plan. The
referendum will be a straight yes or no vote, so this really is the last
chance to suggest improvements.
The consultation will run from 18th June to 30th July.
Throughout the consultation you can participate in several ways:
The complete Plan plus feedback forms will be available online, both
at http://www.nhinkseynp.org.uk/ and at www.northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
Hard copies of all documentation, including feedback forms, will also
be available to view at Botley Library.
There will be a public consultation event on July 15th as part of the
Open Day for the new Seacourt Hall facilities in the Grant Thornton
Building. This will allow you to see displays, and discuss all aspects of
the Neighbourhood Plan with the team that has drawn it up before
providing feedback. Further details about this event will be included in
the July edition of The Sprout.
Please do take this opportunity to participate in shaping a Plan that will
impact on the whole community for many years to come.
David Kay, North Hinksey Parish Neighbourhood Plan Chairman
Friends of Raleigh Park
The Wild Oxford volunteer teams have continued to clear the area round
the pond, which is now restored to its former open state, and have laid
an impressive new hedge by the main gate. Our local ecologist Judy
Webb has completed a detailed report of the work in the Park, which is
available on our website http://www.raleighpark.org.uk. There is great
nesting activity in the new bird boxes, which are being regularly
monitored, and a butterfly survey group has been formed.
We hope that there will be some cattle grazing the park over the summer.
The cattle are there to reduce the rank grass and nettles and encourage
the development of wild flowers. If left ungrazed, trees and brambles will
increase and the park will once more become scrubby woodland.
But when cattle are present, do give them a wide berth. Keep your dogs
well under control and preferably out of sight of the cattle, particularly
towards dusk as they become frisky before bedding down for the night. If
there are any issues please contact the Parks Dept parks@oxford.gov.uk
or let us know at raleighpark@raleighpark.org.uk. Contact details for the
owner of any cattle will be displayed in the park and on our website.
David Brown and Stephen Parkinson
Shopping Centre developments
Last month’s article described the changes to Mace’s latest proposals for
West Way, which included closing off Church Way to all traffic apart from
deliveries. Following objections to the changes to the main vehicle access
route to the centre, a further set of amendments has now restored the
ramps within the two-deck car park, and had Church Way closures for
part of the day. This is a step in the right direction, but issues remain
namely:
Inadequate cycle parking for all users. The approved plans said
that ‘cycle parking would be provided at one space per dwelling
and student room within compounds or building’.
Block E is at a lower level than Blocks C and D opposite, meaning
that the main street through the site will have steps and ramps,
rather than the current gentle slope.
The proposed access restrictions to Church Way will not protect
pedestrian users.
No coherent and workable scheme for scheduling deliveries has
yet been produced by the developer.
During construction up to 250 lorries a week come to the site. The
management plan proposes these will come along West Way and
turn in left at Church Way. This is not a safe practice for cyclists
who risk being overlooked by a lorry driver making a left turn.
Mace promised that that the construction traffic would come in
from Westminster Way. But the diagram shows two way routes,
although the text says only one way will be used)
As the plans have changed, car parking has been prioritised in order to
maintain the same number of parking spaces. This has squeezed space
available for cycles, which are scattered around the car park areas,
insecure and unsafe. They may not fit into the spaces provided. Some
will be two-tier racks or vertical racks which are difficult to get a cycle into
and to lock securely. This matters, because the viability of the centre
relies heavily on the student accommodation, and if it is not popular with
students, then the centre is at risk financially.
Those who are responsible for decisions on this development need to
look carefully at the impacts of the proposals. At present they are not
sustainable and WWCC have objected to them. Issues arise directly from
over-development of the site: there is inadequate space and small
changes have knock-on effects.
The application will go to planning committee on 30th May. If permission
is granted, then the development will proceed, with all the flaws which we
have identified.
What now?:
The Co-op, Tesco, Lloyds Chemist, Baptist Church and Seacourt Hall will
be relocating temporarily to units within Elms Court and Grant Thornton
building and a portacabin, during June.
Demolition of part of Grant Thornton Building is in process, as this is
covered by the planning permission for the conversion of Grant Thornton
and Elms Court. Seacourt Hall will follow.
Demolition will start on the Baptist Church in June. This is part of the main
development site, and will commence once all the pre-commencement
conditions of the planning permission are discharged.
To stay informed, please keep an eye on our website
www.westwayconcern.wordpress.com and you can also find us on
social media www.twitter.com/westwayconcern and facebook.com/
westwayconcern. Mary Gill, Co-chair
Randoms
Volunteer trustees needed for Botley Bridges
Treasurer: Are you good with figures and could you volunteer a couple
of hours a month? Botley Bridges, a local family-support charitable
company, will have a vacancy for a treasurer at the end of July. About 2
or 3 hours a month, plus 6 two-hour trustee meetings a year. Involves:
liaising with the accountant
basic book keeping
making payments and tracking direct debits and standing orders
managing receipts and invoices
assisting with reports
If you are interested and would like more information, please contact
info@botleybridges.org and see our website http://www.botleybridges.org
Volunteers to help with drop in sessions: Do you enjoy spending time
with children and families? Botley Bridges are looking for volunteers to
help with the drop in sessions on Monday afternoons, Friday mornings
and Friday afternoons. Any regular time that you can offer will be valuable
– could be just a couple of hours a week. We need help with welcoming
new families to the sessions, making snacks and supervising craft
activities. If you are interested please contact Hayley, our coordinator on
07498 565636 or at coordinator@botleybridges.org Sue Dowe
Botley W.I.
Our next meeting will be on 5th June, when Ian Paxton a chilli farmer will
tell us all about growing and using chillies. The following day, 6th June,
we visit Sudeley Castle - meet 10am outside the Seacourt Pub. If you’d
like to join us please call Marion on Oxford 864323. The Walking Group
will meet at WI Hall 10am on 19th June to walk round Thrupp, and the
Craft Evening will also be on 19th June. Do come along and join us!
Alison Jenner
The Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme
is now a live planning application and it is the time when the public can
comment. Oxford Preservation Trust is looking at what it will mean for
Oxford and our fields, and is encouraging everyone to ‘Have their say’.
With so many documents to look at, responding is a rather daunting task
but it's your city, your voice. For info on the most relevant parts of the
application, email us at info@oxfordpreservation.org.uk or drop in to the
Snug at The Fishes on Thursday 31 May from 6.30-8pm to have a chat
with us. We will also be leading a walk across our fields on Saturday 2
June, starting at 10.30am from Seacourt Park and Ride. Phone 242918
for more information about the walk. Rachel Sanderson, OPT
Peace and quiet
Looking for somewhere peaceful to sit whilst all this building work is going
on around West Way? St Peter & Paul church (next to Barclays) is open
every day from 9 to 5 and offers a quiet, cool space for anyone to drop in
and take some time out. You can also take a look at our community fridge
and use it if you wish. John Clements
B4044 Botley to Eynsham Path ready to apply for planning
The BikeSafe campaign to get a path built along the B4044 between
Eynsham and Botley is now ready to apply for Planning Permission. But
before we do, we’d like everyone who is interested to come and have a
look and bring comments and suggestions. Dates: Saturday 30th June
Farmoor Village Hall, 10.00am to 1.00pm and Thursday 5th July at
Eynsham Village Hall, 5pm to 8pm.
John Blackie Trustee
Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details
to editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.
1st Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Dean Court Community Centre Thur 6–7.30 Fiona
Wheeler, firstbotleybrownies@gmail.com
2nd Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison
Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com
4th Oxford Scout Group
Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts
Scout Hall, Arnolds Way; mail@thefourth.org.uk
Website: http://www.thefourth.org.uk/
15th Oxford Scout Group
Boys and girls welcome
Meet Fridays, Botley Baptist Hall Contact: Julie Tatham
01865 863074 or Amy Cusden 07887 654386
Baby & Toddler Group
Tues/Thurs 9.15–11, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Badminton Club
Thurs 7-8pm at Matthew Arnold Sports Hall. Garry Clark
0777 3559 314 garryclark13@gmail.com
Books on Wheels R.V.S.
Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142
Botley Boys & Girls F.C.
Football teams from ages 8-16
Jason Barley Ox. 242926 jbarley1@ sky.com or Brendan
Byrne Ox.792531 brendan.byrne999@gmail.com
Botley Health Walks
Wednesday 9.30 a.m Contact: Briony 246497
Botley Library
01865 248142. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,
otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).
Botley Singers
Thur 7.30, St Andrew’s Church, Dean Court. Angela
Astley-Penny Ox.242189 angastpen@aol.com
Chair-based Exercise Class
Tuesdays 10.30 – 11.30 a.m. Seacourt Hall
Contact Lizzie, Oxon Age UK, 07785 425601
Community Fridge
For all. Put food in, take food out. Ss P&P church, Mon–
Sat 9–5, Sun 11–5. Riki Therivel 07759 135811
Cumnor Choral Society
Friday 7.30 to 9.30 pm Contact: 01235 533726 or
07552 786127 or www.cumnorchoral.co.uk
Cumnor Chess Club
Thurs 7–9pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett
862788 www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk
Cumnor & District Historical
Society
Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old
School. 01865 724808
Cumnor Gardening Club
Details on website at http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/ or
phone Chris Impey, 01865 721026
Fit Steps – exercise based
on dance
Friday 6–7pm, Seacourt Hall. Email Rosalie on
rosalie.crane@btinternet.com
Harmony InSpires, Ladies'
Acappella Singing Group
Wed 7.30 at Appleton village hall. C. Casson 01235
831352 or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk
Hill End Volunteer Team
Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org, call
01865-863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk
Let’s Sing! – singing group
Weds 2pm, WOCC, details Emily 07969 522368
or email emformusic@outlook.com
Morris Dancing – Cry Havoc
Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk
Mum and Baby Yoga for
babies from 6 wks to crawling
Mondays 10.30 at Dean Court CC, contact Jacqueline
Rice via https://yogawithjacqueline.co.uk
North Hinksey Preschool
and Childcare Clubs
Mon–Fri 7.45am –6.00 pm. 01865 794287 or email
nhps.manager1@gmail.com
N Hinksey Art Group
Weds 10 – 12.00 W.I. Hall Tel: Christina 07931 707997
N Hinksey Bellringers
Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451
N Hinksey Conservation
Volunteers
Meets at weekends. Contact Voirrey Carr
07798743121 voirreyc@aol.com
N Hinksey, Friends of
Annual Cricket Match & Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.
N Hinksey Horticultural Soc
Contact: Ann Dykes Ox 251821 anndykes@hotmail.com
N Hinksey Parish Council
Alan Stone 01865 861992 nhpcclerk@msn.com
N Hinksey Youth Club
Wednesdays at Arnold's Way pavilion, call Daz on
07791 212866 or see Facebook
Over Sixties Lunch Club
Every other Thursday. Seacourt Hall. Viv Smith 01865
241539 or Jackie Warner 01865 721386
Oxford Flood Alliance
R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035
Oxford Flower Arranging Club
4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: 01865 865259
Oxford Otters
Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays, twice
monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420
Oxford Rugby Club
Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com
Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.
Oxford Sports Lawn Tennis
Club, N Hinksey
Family club: Melanie Riste 848658 or
melanie_riste@hotmail.com
Parkinson’s Disease Soc
Contact: Pen Keyte, Branch Secretary 01865 556032.
Raleigh Park, Friends of
David Brown raleighpark@raleighpark.org.uk
West Way Day Centre
Mon & Fri 10–3pm, Field House, 07740 611971.
oxfordshirehub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
Saturdads
Botley Bridges
Fun activities and trips for Dads and under 5’s
10 am–noon 1st Sat of month. Tel: 243955
Seacourt Hall management
committee
Contact: Michael Cockman 07766 317691
michael.cockman@gmail.com.
Shotokan Karate club
6+ WOCC twice weekly Martyn King 07836 646450
Weight Watchers
Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall Banso
tel: 07779 253899 bansob@aol.com
West Oxford Bowls Club
Contact details on www.westoxfordbowlsclub.co.uk
West Oxford Taekwon Do
Club
Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall
07815 899698 www.wotkd.co.uk
West Oxford U3A
(Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/
Which Craft?
Pavilion, Arnold’s way, fourth Monday, contact
whichcraft.botley@yahoo.co.uk
Women’s Institute (Botley)
Liz Manson, 244175 email liz.manson@virginmedia.com